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    HomeAppalachian Entrepreneurship: Surviving and Thriving in COVID-19

        
      
Appalachian Entrepreneurship: Surviving and Thriving in COVID-19
	
	
				
	
	
	The Appalachian spirit is rooted in resilience, ingenuity and entrepreneurship. Though the economic impacts of COVID-19 put every sector to the test, that Regional spirit has persevered. Small businesses are finding ways to not only survive, but thrive, amidst rapidly changing conditions. Startups, supported by key entrepreneurial ecosystem actors, are growing operations and even meeting critical needs in national COVID response. ARC partners across Appalachia are repurposing funds for emergency loans, mobilizing to meet pressing local needs, and implementing creative solutions to help communities – that were already experiencing economic transition – emerge from this crisis more ready and resilient than ever.

Learn more about the incredible efforts of our partners and the ways ARC is investing in entrepreneurship to help grow economic opportunity in the Appalachian Region.




	



ARC Partners Support Business Success    
    
    Investment in Action      
      Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs: Supporting Businesses of All Backgrounds
          For over 20 years, Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) has empowered entrepreneurship in Appalachian Georgia through small business loans to candidates who might otherwise be overlooked. ACE’s founder,...
																	
										
			

  Investment in Action      
      Ohio University’s Innovation Center: Incubating Appalachia’s Biotech Startups
          Behind every thriving community is small business. Behind a lot of successful small businesses are incubators, which provide the support and resources startups need to succeed. For 38 years, Ohio...




	



Investment in Action      
      The Natural Capital Investment Fund: A Path To Success
          In 2016, the Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIFund) partnered with the Hatfield McCoy Trail Authority and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College (Southern) to drive recreational...
																	
										
			

  Investment in Action      
      EmPOWERing North Carolina’s Farmers and Small Businesses
          In October 2019, North Carolina State University (NCSU) received a $1.1 million grant from ARC’s POWER Initiative to launch EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems. The project initially intended to...

ARC’s Investments in Entrepreneurship

ARC has long taken a multifaceted approach to entrepreneurial investments. Over the last five years, **we’ve invested approximately $89.3 million** in projects and partners who strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems through capital access, business incubation, technical assistance, and more. We also fund research to further assist communities, including an inventory of entrepreneurial services and resources in each of Appalachia’s 420 counties. Finally, supporting tomorrow’s entrepreneurial leaders means training them today. That’s why we launched the Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy, a free learning opportunity where rising high school seniors can gain the skills, knowledge, and network needed to bring ideas to life.




	



$89.3M
              
              invested in entrepreneurship projects from FY 2016 to FY 2020							  


$31.4M
              
              invested to increase capital access from FY 2016 to FY 2020





	


  
Report          
                      Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Appalachia
          
                      ARC’s *Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Appalachia*includes three research reports which outline core elements necessary for a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, analyze community case studies to provide insight into the unique challenges faced by communities in Appalachia, and offer recommendations to support future economic development across the Region.
          
                      Learn More





	


  
Academies and Institutes          
                      Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy
          
                      ARC’s Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy (AEA) prepares the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and thinkers. AEA is a free intensive summer learning experience for rising high school seniors from across the Region. This program is designed to cultivate creativity, sharpen business acumen, and develop skills essential for entrepreneurial success.
          
                      Learn More

Connecting Communities as They Respond to COVID-19





	


  
Event          
                      Managing Food Enterprises During a Crisis
          
                      For many communities, local food is one of the most important gateways to entrepreneurship. In May 2020, ARC hosted a panel of food and ag leaders to share insights on safe and effective operation management during COVID-19. The panelists offered advice in farmers market best practices, safety updates in grocery stores, and more, a lot of which applied to Appalachia’s food entrepreneurs.
          
                      Watch Now





	



Explore More Investments in Action    
    
    Investment in Action      
      The Industrial Commons: Carolina Textile District Pivots to PPE Production

      Woman sews medical safety gear in light of COVID-19 in North Carolina
																				
																	

  Investment in Action      
      SWEEP: Training West Virginia’s Entrepreneurs

      EdVenture Group's SWEEP Program in WV
																				
																	

  Investment in Action      
      Appalachian Community Capital: Investing in the Investors Appalachian Regional Commission

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